JOIN US ON OUR JOURNEY TO AN OFF GRID LIVING IN THE WOODS OF NOVA SCOTIA…….AND OUR EXPERIENCES BUILDING OUR LOG HOME, ​USING SOLAR ENERGY AND MUCH MORE

pumpkin regatta

Can’t believe another weeks over………didn’t accomplish all we wanted but did make a huge step forward on the main “three things to do” list ………..which is now the “two things to do” list as getting in the foundation for the floor is ✔ 🙂

But first we had to move Erna (our crane) which we did a day before as she does have her quirks and you never know what’ll happen if you try…….but she must have gotten the urgency of the situation, only had a couple of hick ups on the way and even decided to drive backwards on her own a couple of times…..all teamwork down here 😉

Then the lower logs had to be covered to be protected when the concrete was poured.

And the huge roof trusses had to be moved which, after we got the hang of it, wasn’t a problem either

My worries that the heavy cement trucks might have a problem getting up the steep quarry road diminished when I saw them rolling in at the break of dawn.

Much to our surprise and great pleasure the contractor showed up with a bunch of guys who know the job and for the first time since we’ve started this project we were sidelined and just watched

But they got the job done quickly and as soon as the concrete started drying , two of them stayed and kept on “polishing” and cleaning the surface and by afternoon all was set’n done !

Know we just have to wait for it to dry out and then we have a floor !

Porch

During the week Frank had also set up the beams for the front side of the house and sanded down all the “post” logs.

And to take some measurements set up some boards but it lets you get an idea what it will look like

Things to do in Nova Scotia

Last weekend Frank got a little sad thinking about the Pumpkin Regatta taking place without him…..besides really not having time for that, he had asked around before and this year our friends who provided the pumpkins before weren’t growing any this year.

Bullmastiff vs. Pumpkin….Mastiff looses

and to strip it

successfully finished and then the pumpkin is ready and

so off we go to the race

Nova Scotians love their

cool down

done…..in every way

winner of the 2013 Windsor Pumpkin Regatta

But he’s hoping for next year and then he’ll be out there trying to win that thing again like 2013. We did post a blog about that a while ago, but here are also some pics if you’d like to have a look

Clouds and more

Of course I got to catch some nice clouds and sunsets with my little camera

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But my absolute favorite this week is the early morning pic I got when I drove into Mahone Bay and the sun was just rising about the cove

Isn’t that beautiful ?!

Animals of the week

As you can see……….this isn’t an animal 😉 I found this when I took the ATV down to get our mail and wondered about that really red color the pile had. Curious as I am I took a little branch and started to dissect the pile of poop (I know….not what you usually do 😉 ) as I couldn’t figure out want the big pieces in it were.

Turns out somebody in the area had a really nice shrimp dinner with fava beans……..the red tone came from the shrimps and I also found all of the tails and the beans.

So think about this: there must not even be food around…..if the animal scents human, it thinks there will also be food and follow that scent……….and that might be the moment you’re on a hike and run into bear, coyote or whatever , who don’t think the human IS food, but he definitely must have something to eat on him. You don’t really want that……….so please………take your leftovers home with you or discard them properly 😉

Now to something really nice we saw up in a tree not far from the camper……what a shame I don’t have a “real” camera…..but I’m sure you’ll notice what it is 🙂

Awesome, don’t you think too ?!

And if a Bullmastiff thinks she can fly…..that usually ends with her taking a bath 😉

Well, that’s it for this week from us here……….and although we’re expecting some rain for the upcoming week, we do hope to make some progress on the porch and the hopefully get started on the roof.

No……..there was not time travel or anything else………just me not wanting to believe that we woke up to sheets of ice this morning and the forecast calling for further weather systems to roll in………and that’s when I scrolled through some pics………..well, and if anything cheers me up it’s those of the giant pumpkins and the annual regatta we have here in this area.

So I thought I’d take the opportunity to cheer up my fellow Canadians (whom I think are all “enjoying” another stretch winter weather) and everyone else around the world (yes…today we even had our first click from Korea !)

Many might not know but Nova Scotia is known only known for it’s beautiful land and the friendliest people you can imagine but also for it’s wine, orchards, Christmas trees and much more…..but come fall………..it’s pumpkin time 🙂

Besides the edible and so diverse species ………..there are also the giant pumpkins and growing them is an art of combined knowledge, patience and a little luck too.

Seeds of winner pumpkins are sacred and kept like crown jewels…..and the friendly rivalry among the growers is part of the fun.

Franks entry into his first race in 2012 was a coincident and for us having spent half of our life on the motorcycle racetracks ……this was kind of a substitute………..oh yeah…..I can already see all of our former teammates faces right now 🙂

Our former neighbor who works for the “TD Nursery, New Ross” (their owners grows these giants besides all the beautiful flowers and shrubs and their award-winning Christmas tree plants!) was supposed to race as in former years but had an injury and Frank ……always in for some fun…..was offered the space.

I don’t want to get into details…………but Frank got into some trouble shortly after starting and went head over heels into the lake…….in his defense ……the life guards wanted to bring him back to shore in the boats but he scrambled back into the water filled pumpkin (it was really ugly and cold that day and the water had no more than + 10 degrees) and finished the race……..true to the Olympic motto……taking part is everything…..or him just being stuborn as always 😉

After that he was hooked and wanted to redeem himself, trained with the canoe and really hit the jackpot with me when he asked if I could join him there. I really thought he wanted to spend some quality time with me and made the mistake to say that it was really nice of him to ask……..he, being a “guy” and not thinking before opening is mouth just said : Yeah, whatever….. I just need some real weight in front of the canoe…………he said later he was only honest and isn’t that what women want…….oh Frank, just shut up 😉

Anyhow long story short (I know that would be a first for me 😉 ) …….just watch the slideshow and you’ll see how it ended .

And for you how rather want to “talk wood” again………..here’s a link to a longer video of how our amazing “lifesaver” the “Log Wizard” works……only 4 more logs to go !!!!